Please Note - Medical Advice
Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.
You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.
We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.
Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.
The vet asked if I wanted her to take a needle to one of the lumps and see what she could find out about it. I said it was okay because I wanted to know what illness could appear out of the blue and be so aggressive. As she looked at the lumps more closely she realized they were starting to ulcerate. She said when they did it would cause excruciating pain.
Final Update:
It looks like it was indeed cancer. The vet said the aspiration she took looked very cellular. While she isn't all that familiar with rabbits, she was positive it wasn't just infection and that the cells looked abnormal. It's just further evidence that ending Amber's suffering is what needed to happen. It was most likely Lymphoma. Her lymph nodes were not enlarged, but there is a type of skin lymphoma where that won't necessarily happen. It can affect the liver and spine. Two problems she had. The rate at which the lumps were growing and how quickly she became so ill makes me believe this was a very aggressive cancer.
Now I have to decide what to do with this information. Part of me feels like I should call the other two vets and explain I had to euthanize her and that it was cancer. I want to tell them that a biopsy should have been done immediately when they saw lumps that were suspicious. If I hadn't been so observant to her condition then she really could have suffered horribly before being euthanized. She already was in a lot of pain, but it didn't last long because I saw she was so bad and knew what the kindest thing to do was. The other part of me feels it won't do any good (they probably won't take me seriously) and will only make me more upset.
I've learned some important lessons from this experience that I want to share with others:
1) This is the most important lesson I will take away from all of this. Always follow your instincts. If you feel that an illness your pet is experiencing could be something more serious than the vets think then don't be afraid to press for more answers.
2) Experience is not everything. You do need a vet who is qualified and knows what they are doing, but that isn't all. Find one that will also take the time to explain things to you fully and will try their best squeeze their patient in when their pet is getting worse. That points to a vet who is compassionate and not just viewing it as a job. You want one that is going to listen to you and I mean really listen to you. Not one who is in and out or already thinking of their next client.
3) Just because a vet is highly recommended with good reviews online does not mean they know everything or won't get things wrong. They are only human. Don't be afraid to offer suggestions and ask questions. Don't expect them to suggest the best diagnostics to find out what is wrong with your pet. You might need to make suggestions or say no when you feel like they are just racking up your bill with tests that probably won't tell you much.
4) Give your fur-kids extra love and attention whenever you can, especially as they get into their senior years. They can go from totally healthy to death's doorstep in a single night. It's scary to think about, trust me I know, but it's the cruel reality of life. Take nothing for granted.